Improved apparatus for the manufacture of vinegar



S. MYERS.

Apparatus for the Manufacture of Vinegar.

Pa tented March 29, 1864.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. w

SAMUEL MYERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO HIMSELF AND GEORGE WV. EARLY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF VINEGAR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,145, dated March 29, 1864.

.1" 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MYERS, of Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Vinegar; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar section taken in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference in both views indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for making vinegar, in which a pile of tanks are used, one on the top of the other to the height of thirty or more feet, so that the acidification of the alcohol, high-wine, or other liquid will take place as the same descends from the top or upper tank in the pile to its bottom.

The invention consists in a pile of tanks of peculiar construction, formed of alternating sections, one filled with shavings or other suitable material, and the other taking the place of an air-chamber, in such a manner that the liquid in passing down through the pile is exposed to the influence of the largest possible quantity of oxygen, and thereby the acidification is promoted and the strength of the vinegar increased. Further, in the application of triangular ledges projecting from the sides of the filling-tanks in such a manner that the liquid passing down through said tanks is conducted toward their centers and prevented from dripping down on their sides. Finally, in the arrangement of doors in the air-chambers, whereby the tempeiature in the interior of the pile of tanks can be regulated, and the strength of the liquid during the different stages of acidification can be tested and regulated by adding above or deducting below.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a pile of tanks, which consists of a series of filling-tanks, B, alternating with air-chambers G. The tanks B are filled with shavings or other suitable material, and they are provided with triangular ledges, a, secured to their inner surfaces, so that the liquid passing down through them is conducted toward the center of each tank, and prevented from dropping down on its sides. The bottoms of the tanks B are perforated with a large number of holes, I), and through these holes the liquid passes down to the air-chamber C below. Each air-chamber is provided with a series of air-holes, 0, so as to give free access to the atmospheric air, and these air-holes may be provided with registers, so that the current of air can be regulated at pleasure. Doors 01 in the sides of the air-chambers give access to their interior and allow of regulating the temperature of the whole apparatus, and of testing the strength of the liquid during the different stages of acidification. By these means the strength of the liquid can be regulated at any moment by adding above or do lu'ctin g below, and vinegar of a uniform percentage can be produced.

In order to expose the liquid to the largest possible quantity of atmospheric air and to promote the acidification, I suspend from the tops of the air-chambers a number of cords, e or, instead of cords, strips of any absorbent material might be used. These cords or strips ought to be placed as close as possible without touching each other, so that the air has free access between them, and as the liquid trickles down through said cords or strips it is spread over a large surface, and the acidification is promoted. Furthermore, the cells of these cords or strips are soon filled with mother of vinegar or with acetic acid, and as the liquid passes down, it comes in contact with this mother, and its acidification is facilitated.

By this apparatus vinegar of any desired strength can be produced with little labor. There is no loss of strength by bailing the liquid, during the progress of acidification, from one tank to the other. The acid vapors are not allowed to escape into the room to the great detriment of the health of the attendants and loss to the manufacturer by evaporachambers O, as and for the purpo: e set forth.

3. The combination of the strips a a' a and cords or drips e e c with a "ertical series of tanks and chambers, B O B O, as herein shown and described.

S. MYERS.

\Yitnesses:

HENRY WILKINSON, '1. SYLvEs'rER PARKER. 

